What is game streaming?

Game streaming is the ability to play Xbox One games remotely from your Xbox One console on any Windows 10 PC on your home network.

This feature allows you to leave your living room and play your favourite Xbox One games anywhere with access to your home network.

Game streaming uses the power of the Xbox One console to manage the game. Your Windows 10 PC becomes a remote second screen so you can roam freely around your home while continuing to enjoy your Xbox One console and games.

System requirements

To take advantage of game streaming, you need:

Xbox One console: Game streaming must be enabled in Settings.

Windows 10 PC: You must be signed in to the Xbox app with the same gamertag as on the Xbox One console.

Network connectivity: The Windows 10 PC and the Xbox One console must be on the same home network. Options:

Wired - Ethernet connection (recommended for both PC and Xbox One console)

Note If a wired connection is not practical in your home due to the distance between your console and your home networking device, you can invest in either of two additional options that take advantage of the existing wiring in your home:

Powerline network adaptors –These adaptors allow you to use the existing electrical wiring of your home as a high-speed wired network.

MoCA (Multimedia over Coax) – These adaptors allow you to use the existing coaxial cable wiring of your home as a high-speed wired network.

How to start game streaming from your Xbox One to your Windows 10 PC

Enable settings on your Xbox One

To use Xbox game streaming, you must first enable game streaming from your Xbox One. To do this, go to Settings and select Preferences. Make sure these two settings are enabled:

Allow game streaming to other devices (beta)

Enable the SmartGlass connection From any SmartGlass device or Only from profiles signed in on this Xbox.

Connect your Windows 10 PC to your Xbox One

After ensuring that your console settings are correct, you need to establish a connection from your Windows 10 PC to your Xbox One console from within the Xbox app on your PC:

On your PC, launch the Xbox app.

Select Connect from the panel on the left side.

The Xbox app will scan your home network for available Xbox One consoles. Select the name of the console you want to connect to.

Note All Xbox One consoles are pre-named "MyXboxOne". If you have multiple consoles, you should rename each one so that you can correctly identify the console you're trying to connect to. You can rename your console by going to Settings on your Xbox One and then selecting System. Console name is the first option on the System screen.

Once you have connected, you'll see the icons change to indicate you are connected, and you'll see new options for streaming, power and media remotes. You'll also now have control of the console remotely.

How to launch game streaming from the Connection panel

To begin streaming, click Stream once the console is connected.

How to launch a game from the Xbox app

Connect your console to your PC, as described previously. After you click on any Xbox One game in the Xbox app, you can initiate streaming from within that game hub. Just click Play from console in the upper-right corner of the screen.

That game will immediately be launched on the Xbox One console and streaming will start.

How to change streaming quality

After your PC is connected to your Xbox One console, you can select a quality level for the video. You can change the quality of your stream before you start streaming or while you are streaming. You should set the quality to the highest level that still gives you a good gameplay experience.

In the Xbox app, click Settings, and then select Game streaming.

Under Video encoding level, select a streaming quality. We recommend:

High – If both your Xbox One and your Windows 10 PC are connected with a wired Ethernet connection, or if your console and the PC are in the same room as the wireless router with minimal wireless interference.

Medium – For 5 GHz wireless networked PCs and consoles that are in different rooms within your home.

Low – For low-end PCs and tablets, as well as 2.4 GHz wireless networks.

Note You can always start with a higher setting and reduce your quality level until you reach the best performance your home network will support based on your current configuration. To try to improve your game streaming experience, see Improve Xbox app for Windows 10 game streaming performance.

Protected video

Protected video and HDCP-protected content can't be streamed with game streaming. This includes protected HDMI television content as well as the content from many media applications.

Using in-game chat and party chat

Plug your USB headset (or microphone) into your Windows 10 PC or your chat headset into your controller before beginning game streaming. Your headset must be selected as the default playback and recording device on your PC. To access this setting, open Control Panel, select Hardware and Sound, and then select Manage Audio Devices.